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Definition of rumrunner

rumrunner

/ˈrʌmˌrʌn.ɚ/
rum · run · ner
Plural:rumrunners
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rumrunner Lexical Profile

rumrunner Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

North American A person who smuggles illegal alcoholic liquor, especially across a border or by sea during the Prohibition era in the United States.

Example

"During the 1920s, the notorious rumrunner made a fortune sneaking cases of whiskey across the Canadian border."

2

North American A fast boat or ship used for smuggling illegal alcoholic beverages ashore.

Example

"The coast guard cutter pursued the sleek rumrunner through the dense coastal fog."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for rumrunner

• Nearby Words

rumple
rumply
rumpus
rumrunner
run
runabout
runaround

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in American English around 1920 during the Prohibition era, combining 'rum' (used generically for liquor) and 'runner' (in the sense of a smuggler who runs past blockades).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Rumrunner. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/rumrunner
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